Blurent Rental company category:Economy
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Hiring a campervan in Castiglione Olona means hitting the road from a hilltop village in the Olona valley, south of Varese, which Cardinal Branda Castiglioni turned into a small Tuscan Renaissance town in the 15th century. Around it, the Lombard site of Castelseprio, the small lakes of Varese, Comabbio and Monate, then Lake Lugano and Swiss Ticino can all be reached in under an hour. Partner company Blurent hands over its vehicles here.
You set off in peace, far from the Milan conurbation; Varese and Como, two other departure cities of our partners, are close by if you want more choice.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle in Castiglione Olona?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Castiglione Olona
1 The Seprio and the small lakes around Varese
- Castiglione Olona
- Castelseprio
- Torba
- Biandronno
- Lake Comabbio
- Lake Monate
- Sesto Calende
- Castiglione Olona
A few minutes to the south, the archaeological park of Castelseprio and the monastery of Torba, World Heritage listed with the Lombard sites of Italy, hold the frescoes of Santa Maria foris portas. You then reach Lake Varese and Isolino Virginia, a prehistoric pile-dwelling site, then the quiet shores of Lakes Comabbio and Monate, before Sesto Calende, where the Ticino river leaves Lake Maggiore.
- Distance
- about 110 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
2 Valganna, Lake Lugano and Valcuvia
- Castiglione Olona
- Valganna
- Ghirla
- Lavena Ponte Tresa
- Porto Ceresio
- Arcumeggia
- Santa Caterina del Sasso
- Castiglione Olona
North of Varese, the Valganna lines up the abbey of San Gemolo and the small Lake Ghirla before Lavena Ponte Tresa, on the Italian shore of Lake Lugano, and Porto Ceresio, facing the Swiss mountains. The way back through the Valcuvia passes Arcumeggia, a village with fresco-painted facades, then the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, clinging to the cliff above Lake Maggiore.
- Distance
- about 140 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
3 Naviglio Grande, Vigevano and the Certosa di Pavia
- Castiglione Olona
- Cassinetta di Lugagnano
- Abbiategrasso
- Morimondo
- Vigevano
- Pavia
- Certosa di Pavia
- Castiglione Olona
Head south through the Ticino valley: the villas of the Naviglio Grande at Cassinetta di Lugagnano, Abbiategrasso and the Cistercian abbey of Morimondo lead to Vigevano and its arcaded Piazza Ducale. Pavia, with its medieval towers and covered bridge, then the Certosa di Pavia, a masterpiece of the Lombard Renaissance, close a loop that skirts Milan without entering it.
- Distance
- about 220 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Low-profile motorhome or camper van
Weather and seasons
When to go in Castiglione Olona?
Best time
May, June and September
May to June, September
highs 20 to 26 °C, lows 11 to 16 °C
Long days, with up to 13 hours of sunshine in June, are ideal for visiting the village and stopping by the small lakes, whose water warms up in early summer. May is nevertheless very wet, with over 200 mm on average: the cloister and baptistery of the Collegiata then offer a sheltered programme.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 28 °C, lows 18 °C
Moderate heat and frequent storms, with more than 150 mm of rain a month: late afternoons often end in a downpour. Campsites on Lakes Maggiore and Lugano are fully booked, while the Olona valley and the Seprio remain quiet. As the choice of vehicles is limited locally, book early.
March, April, October and November
March to April, October to November
highs 11 to 18 °C, lows 3 to 10 °C
A quiet and often damp transition season: October approaches 200 mm of rain and November brings the first fogs of the plain. April already offers around ten hours of sunshine a day, ideal for the gardens of Lake Maggiore; in March and November, many lakeside campsites are still or already closed.
Winter
December to February
December to February
highs 7 to 10 °C, lows -1 to 1 °C
Nights often freeze in January and the Olona valley stays damp, but days are frequently dry and clear, with six to seven hours of sunshine. A heated motorhome lets you visit art cities such as Como, Bergamo or Pavia out of season, when Castelseprio and the village are almost deserted.
Climate in Castiglione Olona, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 °C | -1 °C | 65 mm | 7 h/day |
| Feb | 10 °C | 1 °C | 83 mm | 7 h/day |
| Mar | 13 °C | 3 °C | 122 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 17 °C | 7 °C | 136 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 20 °C | 11 °C | 213 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jun | 26 °C | 16 °C | 173 mm | 13 h/day |
| Jul | 28 °C | 18 °C | 160 mm | 13 h/day |
| Aug | 28 °C | 18 °C | 169 mm | 12 h/day |
| Sep | 23 °C | 14 °C | 150 mm | 10 h/day |
| Oct | 18 °C | 10 °C | 199 mm | 7 h/day |
| Nov | 11 °C | 4 °C | 159 mm | 6 h/day |
| Dec | 8 °C | 0 °C | 85 mm | 6 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Getting to the pick-up point
Blurent gives the exact vehicle handover location with the booking confirmation. By train, the nearest station is Venegono Superiore-Castiglione Olona, on the Ferrovienord regional line from Milan via Saronno; plan a taxi for the last few kilometres and agree on the meeting time with the rental company.
Visit the village on foot
The historic centre, on a hill above the Olona, is explored through narrow cobbled streets, from the main square to the Collegiata. A motorhome has no place there: park below, in the valley, then walk up. Palazzo Branda Castiglioni, the Chiesa di Villa and the baptistery painted by Masolino can be visited in half a day.
The Olona cycle path
A cycling and walking path follows the river south, partly along the former Valmorea railway line, between meadows, mills and old spinning mills, to the outskirts of Castellanza. A bike rack hired with the vehicle lets you leave the motorhome parked and discover the valley and neighbouring villages without getting back behind the wheel.
Where to spend the night
The village and its lanes are not suited to nights in a motorhome. The nearest campsites are mainly on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore, between Sesto Calende and Laveno, and most open from spring to autumn. Elsewhere, sleeping on board depends on municipal by-laws: read the signs at the entrance to car parks.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Castiglione Olona
Where can I pick up a campervan in Castiglione Olona?
Only one partner company is present in Castiglione Olona: Blurent, with one depot whose handover address is given in the booking confirmation. For a wider choice, other companies depart from Varese, Como or Verbania, on Lake Maggiore, which lets you compare more vehicles for the same dates.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Castiglione Olona?
The rate varies with the dates, the length of hire, the type of vehicle and the options chosen, such as a bike rack or an excess reduction. Run a search with your exact dates: the prices shown include mandatory fees and are easy to compare with those of the nearby departures from Varese or Como.
Which airport should I choose to reach Castiglione Olona?
Milan Malpensa is the closest, about half an hour away by road, and handles most international flights in northern Italy. Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio are further away: allow one hour to an hour and a half depending on traffic. Tell the rental company your landing time to set the meeting.
Can I drive into Switzerland with the vehicle?
The Ticino border is about twenty minutes away by road, via Varese and the Gaggiolo crossing, or via Ponte Tresa, on the shore of Lake Lugano. First check that the offer allows Switzerland, a country outside the European Union, and get the motorway vignette required for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Castiglione Olona with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Good and quick communication, easy to book and easy to follow all the instructions.
C.
Italy · Sep 2025
Trustpilot
Cooldrive was very attentive and very responsive in all situations. We received valuable assistance in the steps to be taken. I highly recommend it.
P.
Italy · Jul 2025
Trustpilot
The person answered my questions before I confirmed the booking. The van matched my order well with extras. During my trip, I had a little issue that had nothing to do with Cooldrive. I appreciated that the person took the time to call me back. No bad surprises, only good ones. Highly recommended.
Q.
Italy · Sep 2024
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Castiglione Olona
What licence do I need for a rental motorhome in Italy?
For a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes, a category B licence is enough. Holders of a licence issued outside the European Union often also need to show an international driving permit. The minimum age and number of years of driving required are set out in the conditions of Blurent's offer: check them before booking, especially for a young driver.
Can I return the motorhome in another city?
Varese, Como, Verbania, Monza and Milan are also departure cities of our partners, which opens the way to one-way trips, for example towards Lake Maggiore or the Milan plain. It all depends on the rental company and its network: enter the return city in your search, and any one-way fee will be included in the displayed price.
Do I need winter tyres around Varese?
On many roads in the province of Varese, notably towards the Valganna and the Valcuvia, signs require winter tyres or snow chains on board, generally from mid-November to mid-April. Checks can take place even in dry weather. Ask the rental company whether the vehicle is equipped before setting off between autumn and spring.
How can I visit Milan without driving in with a motorhome?
Milan is 42 km away as the crow flies, but its centre is protected by Area C, which is charged, and almost the whole city by Area B, which excludes some vehicles depending on their engine and Euro standard. The simplest option: leave the motorhome in an authorised parking place near a Ferrovienord station and take the train to Milano Cadorna.
When should I book a campervan in Castiglione Olona?
With only one rental company on site, it is best to book several months ahead for July, August and the Italian spring bank holidays, when the nearby lakes draw many travellers. Out of season, a few weeks are often enough; if your dates are taken, shifting the departure by a day or two sometimes frees up a vehicle.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Castiglione Olona
Castiglione Olona offers an off-the-beaten-track start for exploring the province of Varese: a village with a Renaissance heritage, rare in Lombardy, a few minutes from the Lombard frescoes of Castelseprio and Torba. Within an hour's drive at most, you reach Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Swiss Ticino or the Ticino plain towards Pavia, without facing Milan traffic just as you get used to the vehicle.
Blurent offers its motorhomes and campervans here, and Varese, Como, Verbania and Monza, other departure cities of our partners within 40 km as the crow flies, provide more choice or one-way trips. From May to September, long sunny days let you combine heritage and lakes; the rest of the year, a heated vehicle is enough to discover the art cities.